Lady Gaga Apologizes for ‘Twisted’ R. Kelly Collaboration

After reportedly refusing to be a part of Lifetime’s “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary, pop star Lady Gaga is now speaking out and apologizing for her “twisted” musical collaboration with the Pied Piper.

The “Star Is Born” actress collaborated with R. Kelly back in 2013 for her single “Do What U Want (With My Body),” from her album ARTPOP. Despite working with the singer/songwriter AFTER his 2008 child pornography case, Gaga is now apologizing for working with Kelly following the recent release of Lifetime’s scathing documentary that details his long history of sexual misconduct with young girls and women.

The “Paparazzi” singer took to Twitter to release a statement after she was criticized for not appearing in the documentary. “Surviving R. Kelly” producer Dream Hampton recently told The Detroit Press that Gaga was a part of a group of Kelly’ collaborators who denied taking part in the documentary including, Questlove, Erykah Badu, Celine Dion and JAY-Z.

“I stand behind these women 1000%, believe them, know they are suffering and in pain, and feel strongly that their voices should be heard and taken seriously,” Gaga tweeted, referring to the women who shared their stories. “I’m sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner.”

Kelly and Gaga’s song will reportedly be removed from iTunes and other streaming platforms. In her statement, Gaga said she used the “trauma” from her own sexual assault to sing the raunchy song with Kelly.

“As a victim of sexual assault myself, I made both the song and the video at a dark time in my life, my intention was to create something extremely defiant and provocative because I was angry and still hadn’t processed the trauma that had occurred in my life,” she wrote. “The song is called “Do What U Want (With My Body)”, I think it’s clear how explicitly twisted my thinking was at the time.”

The award-winning actress continued,

“If I could go back and have a talk with my younger self I’d tell her to go through the therapy I have since then, so that I could understand the confused post-traumatic state that I was in—or if therapy was not available to me or anyone in my situation—to seek help, and speak as openly and honestly as possible about what we’ve been through.” Gaga added, “I intend to remove this song off of iTunes and other streaming platforms and will not be working with him again,” she said in conclusion. “I’m sorry, both for my poor judgment when I was young, and for not speaking out sooner.”

During a 2014 interview with Howard Stern, Gaga revealed that she was sexually assaulted at the age of 19. Later that year, she released “Do What U Want,” and received heavy backlash after she and Kelly simulated sex during a November performance on Saturday Night Live, Ebony reports.

Gaga is the second artist to apologize for working with Kelly after Chicago native Chance the Rapper appeared in “Surviving R. Kelly” and apologized for working with the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer.

R. Kelly continues to deny all allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct.